Walking along the Grand Union Canal with Emma

This morning I was a bit more ambitious than yesterday (though Emma did get her walk...) and Emma and I went out walking for about an hour. This time we went the other way. The Grand Union canal winds its way through the Alperton area (it runs from London to Birmingham actually) which I discovered when a couple of friends sent me links to a walk along the tow path of the canal. (which I will be doing in the next few days without Emma). This canal walk is pretty in places...but it can be NOT so pretty as well. As I mentioned in my last post there are a lot of litter bugs in this area which is disgusting (and let's not get into the habit some of the locals have of spitting and blowing their nose onto the pavement....makes me nauseous thinking about it) so I have included photos of that too. It's not totally idyllic trust me....but it was still a peaceful walk especially once we got past the housing estate which is where all the garbage was. Emma is not the easiest dog to walk, motivated as she is by food (which I can identify with)...always straining on the leash to get to some "tasty"morsel. Once we were past the dog version of an all you can eat buffet Emma calmed down and it was a pleasant walk - unfortunately we had to once again come back that way.

So here we go....hope you're ready, Emma sure is!!!

First we have to go through One Tree Hill park which is a short cut to the road that leads to the canal

I bring you this vision of green especially for my friend Dena!!!

Piccadilly Line tube train roaring by

The gang...can you hear the hissing. These swans were bad asses and would NOT move like their more timid friends...I am sure they've seen off fiercer dogs than Emma (who ignored them - now if they had had food in their beaks that would be a different story) I call them the Grand Canal Swan gang...

One of the not so pretty bits and Emma investigating

Well come on...what's holding you up?

More garbage...or rubbish I should say...this is by a housing estate.

Emma admiring the view

Canal boats

Getting to the pretty more secluded bit - can't wait to explore more sans Emma another day!

Heading back...hurry up Laurie, let's back to the yummy smelly part of the tow path!

So long!

Hope you enjoyed the walk as much as we did!

Comments

A walk along the coffin trail (and a couple of lakes) in the Lake District

While in the Lake District I wanted to do some light walking but not heavy duty hiking where I could easily get lost and my body not found for days partially eaten by hungry...sheep? Anyway, you get the drift...not too grueling and safe for a solo walker. I get a bit nervous when I am too far from civilization. There are lots of books about walking in the Lake District but they seem to be all about walking the fells in remote places...neither Thelma nor I fancied that. While browsing in the post office/shop in Ambleside one day (if you are ever in Ambleside you must go there - a treasure!) I found a stand of walk descriptions on post cards. And there I found my walk. After all who could resist a stroll on the "coffin trail" in William Wordsworth country... I took a look and thought hmm...cafe along the route...that works for me. (with at least the security of knowing there was an available "loo" along the way.) Okay, I may not have totally...

Peeing on fish or a fish out of water

Well this morning we headed off by boat to Siem Reap. Due to the low water on the Tonie Sap Lake (more like a river until near the end of the trip when it widened considerably) the trip would be an 8 hour one... It was supposed to be boring but ended up as anything but...in no certain order...let's see.... We had a rest stop (turned out to be the only one) along the way and the loo was just a hole over the lake and there were fish circling around underneath. Yes it was just a hole in the floor...you definitely had someone watch your stuff while you went in or one false move and your camera/purse or whatever would be in the lake. The fish either like the warm pee coming in or they are pervs and like to see ladies parts. We were just a few minutes out when all of a sudden there was something flying over me and jumping all over the floor - a little fish! Guess he wanted to join the tour. Roger reached down and scooped him up while I hooted and ...

Cowboys and Outlaws in the Big Muddy of Saskatchewan

One of the (very) few advantages of being stuck at home during this pandemic has been an opportunity to see more of my home province of Saskatchewan. Last summer and fall not only did I do a couple of day trips with friends but I took four day tours with Engelheim transport, a local Regina company. I have to admit my favourite day out was the "Big Muddy Valley and Outlaws" tour. While I had been to the Big Muddy previously many years back I was eager to revisit and learn more of its history. So in early October, I hopped on board and off we went. The bus is only booked to half capacity so it was easy to social distance, hand gel was a must each time we boarded the bus, masks were required when you got on and off the bus and in any buildings we visited. I felt totally safe and oh my, it was so good to have an adventure!! Despite the name the Big Muddy isn't a big huge puddle of mud but a valley of badlands that were formed from a glac...

Restless Prairie Girl

Search This Blog